FUEL CELL - A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. Resin frame members are provided at outer ends the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. A dual seal provided on the resin frame member includes an outer seal member and an inner seal member. A front end of the outer seal member contacts the resin frame member, and a front end of the inner seal member contacts the outer end of the first metal separator. The outer seal member and the outer seal member have the same height.

2012-11-22

20120295177

FUEL CELL - A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. Resin frame members are provided at the outer ends of the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. Coolant connection channels including a plurality of grooves is formed in each of the resin frame members. The grooves of the coolant connection channels of the cell unit and grooves of coolant connection channels of a cell unit that is adjacent to the cell unit in the stacking direction are offset from each other, and are not overlapped with each other in the stacking direction.

2012-11-22

20120295178

FLOW FIELD PLATE FOR REDUCED PRESSURE DROP IN COOLANT - The pressure drop associated with the coolant flow in the coolant transition regions of a typical high power density, solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack can be significant. This pressure drop can be reduced by enlarging the height of the coolant ducts in this region of the associated flow field plate so that the ducts extend beyond the plane of the plate. The height change can be accommodated by offsetting the ducts in adjacent cells in the stack and by employing non planar MEAs in this region. By reducing the pressure drop, improved coolant flow sharing is obtained.

2012-11-22

20120295179

SEMI-PASSIVE TYPE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A semi-passive fuel cell system is provided. A stack in which a plurality of unit cells are laterally stacked with one another is provided. Each unit cell includes a membrane-electrode assembly and bipolar plates located on both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, a cathode electrode, and an anode electrode. The cathode and anode electrodes, respectively, are formed on each side of the electrolyte membrane. Also provided are a means for supplying fuel and a means for supplying air. Each of the bipolar plates has air paths formed on a surface facing the cathode electrode and extending from an upper end to a lower end of the bipolar plate. The air supply means includes ducts which are respectively installed on an upper end and a lower end of the stack, and includes a means for blowing air through the ducts.

2012-11-22

20120295180

FUEL CELL STACK - A fuel cell of a fuel cell stack includes separators. Each of the separators includes a fuel gas supply section, a bridge, and a sandwiching section. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the center of the fuel gas supply section, and a fuel gas supply channel is formed in the bridge. A plurality of the fuel cells are stacked together to form a stack body. Side insulating members are provided in parallel with an extension line extending from the bridge, and along both of outer portions of the sandwiching section. The side insulating members suppress heat radiation from the fuel cells, and are used as a reference level for positioning the fuel cells at the time of stacking the fuel cells.

FUEL CELL - A fuel cell includes separators. A second plate of the separator includes a second circular disk section, a second elongated plate section, and a second rectangular section. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the second circular disk section. The second rectangular section has a fuel gas inlet for supplying a fuel gas to a fuel gas channel, an outer ridge, and a fuel gas outlet for discharging the fuel gas, and a detour path forming wall bent in a V-shape toward the fuel gas inlet. A fuel gas inlet is formed in the V-shaped inner area of the detour path forming wall.

HIGH-POTENTIAL STABLE OXIDE SUPPORT FOR POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL - Disclosed is an oxide and/or nitride support for electrode catalysts, which is used for electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC). The support for electrode catalysts is an aggregation body of primary particles of oxide of at least one kind of metal selected from rare earths, alkaline earths, transition metals, niobium, bismuth, tin, antimony, zirconium, molybdenum, indium, tantalum, and tungsten, and the aggregation body is configured such that at least 80% of the metal oxide primary particles having a size of 5 nm to 100 nm aggregate and bind each other to form dendritic or chain structures each of which is made of 5 or more of the metal oxide primary particles.

2012-11-22

20120295185

Holographic Reticle and Patterning Method - A hologram reticle and method of patterning a target. A layout pattern for an image to be transferred to a target is converted into a holographic representation of the image. A hologram reticle is manufactured that includes the holographic representation. The hologram reticle is then used to pattern the target. Three-dimensional patterns may be formed in a photoresist layer of the target in a single patterning step. These three-dimensional patterns may be filled to form three-dimensional structures or else used in a multi-surface imaging composition. The holographic representation of the image may also be transferred to a top photoresist layer of a top surface imaging (TSI) semiconductor device, either directly or using the hologram reticle. The top photoresist layer may then be used to pattern an underlying photoresist layer with the image. The lower photoresist layer is used to pattern a material layer of the device.

2012-11-22

20120295186

DOUBLE PATTERNING MASK SET AND METHOD OF FORMING THEREOF - A double patterning mask set includes a first mask having a first set of via patterns, and a second mask having a second set of via patterns. The first set of via patterns includes at least two via patterns arranged along a diagonal direction, each of the at least two via patterns has at least a truncated corner. The first set of via patterns and the second set of via patterns are interlacedly arranged along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

2012-11-22

20120295187

DUMMY PATTERNS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING DUMMY PATTERNS - A method for generating dummy patterns includes providing a layout region having a layout pattern with a first density, inserting a plurality of first dummy patterns with a second density corresponding to the first density in the layout pattern, dividing the layout region into a plurality of sub-regions with a third density, adjusting a size of the first dummy pattern according to a difference between the second density and the third density, and outputting the layout pattern and the first dummy patterns on a photomask.

BICOMPONENT DEVELOPING AGENT - A two-component developer including at least a toner and a carrier. The toner includes a coloring particle prepared by agglutinating and fusing a resin particle having colorants and a resin particle having wax, and 0.2-2.0 wt. % hydrophobic silica and 0.01-1.0 wt. % a hydrotalcite-like compound as external additives. A shape coefficient of the toner is 0.93-0.99. The carrier includes at least a magnetic particle coated with a silicone resin layer, with a volume average particle diameter of 20-100 μm.

2012-11-22

20120295190

TONER - A toner is provided which has toner particles containing an aromatic compound represented by the following formula (1), and a colorant:

2012-11-22

20120295191

TONER - A toner is provided which has toner particles containing a charging component and containing an aromatic compound represented by the following formula (1):

TONER AND DEVELOPER - To provide a toner, which contains a binder resin containing a crystalline resin and a non-crystalline resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, wherein the toner has ½ flow onset temperature T½ of 120° C. to 135° C., and wherein a peak intensity ratio of an intensity of a peak derived from the crystalline resin and the releasing agent to an intensity of a peak derived from the binder resin as measured in FTIR-ATR is 0.10 to 0.20.

Bio-toner containning bio-resin, method for making the same, and method for printing with bio-toner containing bio-resin - There is provided in one embodiment a bio-toner having a bio-resin, a second resin, and one or more colorants. The second resin has at least one of a styrene acrylate resin or a polyester resin each having at least one molecular weight peak greater than 90,000 and at least one molecular weight peak less than 15,000. The bio-resin is a polyester polymer having one or more reacted di-acid monomer units and one or more reacted diol monomer units. At least one of the reacted di-acid monomer units or at least one of the reacted diol monomer units is a bio-monomer obtained from a plant or an animal source.

2012-11-22

20120295197

RADIATION-SENSITIVE RESIN COMPOSITION, POLYMER AND METHOD FOR FORMING A RESIST PATTERN - A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a first polymer, a second polymer and a radiation-sensitive acid generator. The first polymer has a structure unit represented by a following formula (1-1), a structure unit represented by a following formula (1-2), or both thereof, and has a content of fluorine atoms of no less than 5% by mass to a total mass of the first polymer. The second polymer has an acid-dissociable group, and has a content of fluorine atoms of less than 5% by mass to a total mass of the second polymer.

2012-11-22

20120295198

RADIATION-SENSITIVE RESIN COMPOSITION - A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a compound represented by a following formula (1), and a first polymer that serves as a base resin. R

2012-11-22

20120295199

LONG-CHAIN ALKYLENE-CONTAINING CURABLE EPOXY RESIN COMPOSITION - A curable composition that maintains good handleability in the liquid form and that can be photo- or heat-cured to form a cured product having physical properties including both high transparency and high flexural strength. A curable composition includes, an epoxy compound of (1):

2012-11-22

20120295200

PHOTOCURABLE AND THERMOSETTING RESIN COMPOSITION AND PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS MADE BY USING THE SAME - A photocurable and thermosetting composition comprises (A) a carboxyl group-containing resin having at least one carboxyl group in its molecule, (B) a photopolymerization initiator having an oxime linkage represented by the following general formula (I), (C) a reactive diluent, and (D) an epoxy compound having two or more epoxy groups in its molecule. The above-mentioned photopolymerization initiator (B) is incorporated into a formulation which is different from at least a formulation into which the above-mentioned carboxyl group-containing resin (A) and the above-mentioned reactive diluent (C) are incorporated to formulate a system comprising at least two parts.

DRAWING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ARTICLE - A drawing apparatus includes a first aperture array configured to split a diverging charged particle beam, a converging lens array configured to form a plurality of first crossovers of a plurality of charged particle beams from the first aperture array, a collimator lens having a principal plane where the plurality of first crossovers are to be formed, a correcting system configured to correct angles of a plurality of charged particle beams from the collimator lens and to form a plurality of second crossovers, and an element having a plurality of apertures respectively corresponding to the plurality of second crossovers. The first aperture array and the converging lens array have apertures such that an arrangement of the plurality of first crossovers is different from an arrangement of the plurality of apertures, and that the plurality of second crossovers are aligned with the plurality of apertures on the element.

2012-11-22

20120295203

DRAWING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ARTICLE - A drawing apparatus includes an aperture array, a lens array configured to form a plurality of crossovers of a plurality of charged particle beams from the aperture array, and a projection system including an element having a single aperture and configured to converge the plurality of charged particle beams corresponding to the plurality of crossovers and to project the plurality of charged particle beams having passed through the single aperture onto the substrate. The lens array includes a correction lens array including a converging lens eccentric relative to corresponding one of a plurality of apertures of the aperture array such that the plurality of charged particle beams converged according to aberration of the projection system are converged to the single aperture. The lens array includes a magnifying lens array configured, so as to form the plurality of crossovers, to magnify a plurality of crossovers formed by the correction lens array.

2012-11-22

20120295204

PROCESSING METHOD OF LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PLATE PREURSOR - A processing method of a lithographic printing plate precursor includes: exposing imagewise a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support on a surface of which at least one of: a hydrophilizing treatment; and an undercoat layer has been provided and an image-recording layer, to cure an exposed area of the image-recording layer; and undergoing developing processing with an aqueous solution having pH of from 2 to 10, wherein the aqueous solution comprises an amphoteric surfactant and an anionic surfactant selected from an anionic surfactant having an aliphatic chain and a total number of carbon atoms included in the aliphatic chain of 6 or more and an anionic surfactant having an aromatic ring and a total number of carbon atoms of 12 or more, and a content of the anionic surfactant is from 0.1 to 3.3% by weight of the aqueous solution.

COMBUSTION EFFICIENCY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A LAMINAR BURNER SYSTEM - A high efficiency laminar flow burner system for proving a stream of heat energy including a supply input module for providing fuel and laminar streams of air to a combustion manifold. The laminar air delivery system includes a damper, a blower, and an air delivery controller. The air delivery controller receives an efficiency signal to control the flow of a laminar air intake stream by adjusting the damper. The combustion manifold includes an air-fuel mixing system, a stoichiometric unit, and a refractory unit each coupled to one another. The laminar air intake stream traveling from the supply input module passes through a stoichiometric unit body to meet with a first combustion stream from an air-fuel mixing chamber within the stoichiometric unit body to define a second combustion stream. The second combustion stream then travels across the refractory passageway to define a third combustion stream.

2012-11-22

20120295207

Premix Burner - A premix burner which comprises a combustion head comprising, in turn, a perforated covering element provided with a plurality of openings. The premix burner is characterised in that it is provided with a device for generating and delivering a minimum granted thermal power completely arranged inside the combustion head. Moreover, the device comprises a concave element, whose concavity faces the internal wall of the perforated covering element.

METHOD FOR HEATING COATED GLASS SHEETS IN AN OVEN - The present invention relates to a method for heating glass sheets having an organic material-based coating in an oven, particularly with a view to the subsequent tempering thereof. More precisely, the invention relates to a method enabling glass sheets having an organic material-based coating to be heat treated by enabling the management of the rapid and violent combustion of said organic material in the oven, using a forced heat convection effect due to a hot gas comprising an oxidizer, injected above the glass sheet at least between t1 and t2, t1 being the time at which the flames from the combustion of the organic matter appear and t2 the time when said flames disappear.

2012-11-22

20120295210

Conveyor Oven with Removable Burner Screens - A conveyor oven has several heating zones. Each heating zone is comprised of one or more infrared emitters that are configured to emit a spectrum of infrared wavelengths that varies in intensity and spectrum over time. The spectra of emitted infrared wavelengths in each zone can have the same or different profile. Zones are regions wherein infrared emitters are configured and operated to emit the same or substantially the same infrared energy wavelengths and intensity levels across an IR spectrum. Access to the infrared emitters and the conveyor is provided by one or more access or maintenance ports formed into a side of the conveyor oven. Temperature control inside the oven is effectuated by venting hot air through air vents formed into the oven sides and/or top.

2012-11-22

20120295211

Method and Apparatus for Vacuum-Formed Dental Appliance - An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including a set of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth and has a set of bite pads integrated with a second set of plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the tooth. The appliance includes the upper and lower plastic trays and specially formed elastic bands of a plurality of lengths and strengths replaceably attached to the retention hooks on both sides of the trays to pull the mandible forward for treatment.

ORTHODONTIC BRACKET SYSTEM - The orthodontic bracket system includes a bracket having a base for attachment to a tooth surface, a stem above the base, tie wings extending from the stem for securing ligatures, and an archwire slot for receiving an archwire defined by the stem and tie wings. Distal and mesial side surfaces of the bracket base are perpendicular to the archwire slot to allow a rotational device to apply rotational force to a tooth perpendicular to the archwire with direct vector-line guidance. Occlusal and gingival edges of the bracket base between the tie wings are scooped-out or recessed to provide more space to receive a tool under an elastic ligature, and select corners of the tie wings are beveled enlarging space to facilitate entry of instruments for removing wire ligatures, to facilitate instrument access for removal and replacement of ligatures, while streamlining tooth rotation to make arch correction more efficient.

2012-11-22

20120295214

DENTAL AUTO-MIXING METHODS, DEVICES, AND COMPOSITIONS - A method of dispensing a hardenable dental composition comprising 1) providing a two-part hardenable dental composition, and 2) extruding the composition through a static mixer in fluid communication with a first reservoir containing the first part and a second reservoir containing the second part, wherein a plunger is positioned in each reservoir for simultaneously forcing both parts into the static mixer, extruding the composition through the static mixer, and dispensing the composition, and wherein an extrusion force is applied to the plunger for extruding the composition through the static mixer without the aid of a mechanical advantage provided by an attached or external device. Also disclosed is a method of bonding a prosthetic device to a dental structure using the dispensing method, a device for dispensing the composition using the dispensing method, a kit comprising the device, and the composition used in the dispensing method.

2012-11-22

20120295215

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A MATERIAL - A device for dispensing a material comprises a piston for extruding the material. The device further has a spindle and a cooperating nut that are rotatable relative to each other to displace the piston axially to a rotation axis of the spindle. The device is adapted for rotationally driving the spindle and the nut individually. The invention is advantageous in that it helps in providing a relatively compact and inexpensive device.

2012-11-22

20120295216

Diagnostic Oral Health Care Implement and System - A diagnostic oral health care implement and system are provided for use during oral health care activities. The diagnostic oral health care implement has a diagnostic sensor. The diagnostic sensor provides diagnostic measurements in a plurality of formats including the biofilm thickness of dental plaque. The diagnostic oral health care system has a diagnostic oral health care implement and a first data transfer medium. The system optionally has any combination of a second data transfer medium, a network storage device, and a third data transfer medium. The system provides for the collection of diagnostic measurements and transmission of the data into a readable, usable form for the user via an oral health care implement.

2012-11-22

20120295217

INTRA-ORAL SCANNER - An intra-oral scanner includes an optical output unit; an optical output control unit configured to rotate the optical output unit along a first reference axis or moves the optical output unit so as to control an emission position of the output light; an optical system configured to reflect the output light with the emission position controlled by the optical output control unit to a tooth or teeth being scanned; an optical system driving unit configured to rotate the optical system along a second reference axis so as to control a reflection angle of the output light; a guide; an optical sensing unit configured to sense the light reflected by the optical system and convert the sensed light into an electrical signal; and a data transmitting unit configured to transmit information to a three-dimensional data generating unit to generate three-dimensional scanning model for the tooth or teeth being scanned.

2012-11-22

20120295218

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TEETH CLEANING - Embodiments are described wherein a system for brushing the teeth of a person comprises a master input device; a flexible teeth tray configured to at least partially encapsulate one or more of the teeth in a flexible substrate material, the flexible teeth tray comprising one or more vibratory transducers removably coupled to one or more brushing panels; and a controller operatively coupled to the master input device and the one or more vibratory transducers; wherein subject to an input from the master input device, the controller is configured to cause reciprocating brushing motion of the one or more brushing panels against a surface of the one or more encapsulated teeth, to clean the one or more teeth.

2012-11-22

20120295219

DENTAL ARTICULATOR FOR POSITIONING THE ARCADES WITHOUT THE USE OF PLASTER - This patent application refers to a mechanical equipment that, when used in conjunction with a device to determine the position of the superior arcade of the patient, based on landmarks on the skull of the same, allows accurate reproduction of the position of the dental arches, represented by plaster models and simulation of mandibular movements. These models are connected to the equipment, through a unique positioning mechanical system, eliminating the use of plaster to fix the same. The patent, now required, includes features of the equipment currently called “articulator” and “face-bow” and adds new features in an unprecedented and innovative way. The set of the equipment is light weighted, and easy to handle, allowing up to 50% reduction in the time required for assembly and adjustments when compared to the equipment market, and its guide system makes the reproduction of mandibular movements very accurate, avoiding errors in diagnosis and treatment.

2012-11-22

20120295220

Oral Irrigator with Hand Conforming Housing - An oral irrigator has a pump, a discharge nozzle and a pressure control. The pump has a generally constant operating speed and feeds the discharge nozzle. The pressure control is adapted to modify a discharge pressure at the nozzle without a significant change in pump speed. The pressure control modifies a level of fluid flow restriction between the pump and the nozzle. The modification of the level of fluid flow restriction is accomplished by modifying aspects of a fluid flow path extending through the pressure control. The aspects modified include the diameter, length and/or number of direction changes of the fluid flow path.

INSERTION MATERIAL INTENDED FOR WIDENING THE GINGIVAL CREVICE - The present invention relates to a novel insertion material intended for widening the gingival crevice. According to the invention, this material consists of a hydrophilic paste comprising, expressed as percentage by weight relative to the total weight of the material:

2012-11-22

20120295223

TEMPORARY ABUTMENT WITH COMBINATION OF SCANNING FEATURES AND PROVISIONALIZATION FEATURES - A lower region of a temporary abutment includes an anti-rotational feature for non-rotationally mating with a dental implant. An upper region of the temporary abutment includes a first anti-rotational structure and at least one retention groove. A top surface of the temporary abutment includes one or more informational markers that provide information concerning the dental implant. A temporary abutment cap is configured to be coupled to the upper region of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap has at least one projection configured to mate with the at least one retention groove of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap has a second anti-rotational structure that is configured to slidably engage the first anti-rotational structure of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap is configured to be coupled with a temporary prosthesis such that the temporary prosthesis and the temporary abutment cap are removable from the temporary abutment.

2012-11-22

20120295224

IMPLANT ARRANGEMENT WITH AN INTERNAL SOCKET FOR A TURNING TOOL - An implant is provided with an upper portion in which an internal socket extends. The implant can be tightened by a turning instrument which has first lateral surfaces that can cooperate with corresponding second lateral surfaces in the internal socket. One or more of the first and/or second lateral surfaces is/are arranged completely or partially with friction-enhancing means. The implant and the tool are arranged with interacting parts which extend beyond the first and second lateral surfaces and completely or substantially take up bending moments which act in or on said portion or are directed toward said portion and occur in the event of skewing, or a tendency toward skewing, between the implant and the tool. The arrangement counteracts mechanical stresses in said portion, the latter being able to retain its original shape even in the case of implants with small dimensions.

2012-11-22

20120295225

CONDENSING SKELETAL IMPLANT THAT FACILITATE INSERTIONS - A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

2012-11-22

20120295226

TEMPORARY ABUTMENT WITH COMBINATION OF SCANNING FEATURES AND PROVISIONALIZATION FEATURES - A lower region of a temporary abutment includes an anti-rotational feature for non-rotationally mating with a dental implant. An upper region of the temporary abutment includes a first anti-rotational structure and at least one retention groove. A top surface of the temporary abutment includes one or more informational markers that provide information concerning the dental implant. A temporary abutment cap is configured to be coupled to the upper region of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap has at least one projection configured to mate with the at least one retention groove of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap has a second anti-rotational structure that is configured to slideably engage the first anti-rotational structure of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap is configured to be coupled with a temporary prosthesis such that the temporary prosthesis and the temporary abutment cap are removable from the temporary abutment.

Systems and Methods for Analyzing a Marksman Training Exercise - Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for analyzing a marksman training exercise. Embodiments disclosed herein include determining a desired instructor speed and a desired instructor accuracy for a plurality of shots in the marksman training exercise, determining a desired student speed and a desired student accuracy for the plurality of shots in the marksman training exercise, and assigning the desired instructor speed and the desired instructor accuracy a first percentage. Some embodiments are configured for assigning the desired student speed and the desired student accuracy a second percentage, receiving a marksman speed data and a marksman accuracy data for the plurality of shots by a marksman, and converting the marksman speed data and the marksman accuracy data into respective percentages based on the first percentage and the second percentage.

2012-11-22

20120295230

Interactive driver's educational video game system and method - An interactive driver's educational video game is utilized on a game system. The game comprises a game machine main body and at least one recording medium for storing program data therein. The game machine main body comprises at least one CPU, at least one bus and components connected thereto, at least one graphics data producing processor, at least one interface circuit, a main memory, a ROM, at least one expanding circuit, at least one parallel port/serial port, at least one drawing sound processor, at least one buffer, and at least one decoder. The game machine is appointed to be connected to a visual display monitor. The interactive driver's educational video game is stored on a medium. The interactive driver's educational video game comprises a player number entry means, player vehicle position means, player assignment means, variable insert means, and distance/destination means. Advantageously, the interactive driver's educational video game is used to educate drivers; especially inexperienced drivers and elderly drivers, on how to react to various driving situations in order to prevent automobile accidents and save lives.

2012-11-22

20120295231

REALTIME USER GUIDANCE FOR FREEHAND DRAWING - Architecture that guides the freeform drawing of objects by a user to enable the user to produce improved drawings without significant training. As the user draws, the architecture dynamically updates a relevant shadow image proximate (e.g., underlying) the user's strokes. The strokes overlay an evolving shadow image, which shadow image is suggestive of object contours that guide the user during the drawing process. Relevant edge images selected from a large database are automatically blended to construct the shadow image. As the user draws, the strokes are dynamically analyzed using an encoding of overlapping windows for fast matching with the database of images. A top ranked set of matching database edge images are aligned to the drawing, a set of spatially varying weights blend the edge images into the shadow image, and a scoring technique is employed to select the optimum shadow image for display.

2012-11-22

20120295232

Touch sense device for the visually impaired - A touch sense device (TSD) implements an electrical pulse technology to mimic a Braille dot includes a series of sensor cells. A sensor cell consists of eight dots is composed of an anode (+) and cathode (−) electrodes with each dot arranged in a two by four matrices portraying a Braille syntax. Depending on the Braille characters, low electrical currents are passed through different positioned anodes, when touched by a finger delivers currents to the cathode completing the electrical circuits forming character dot(s); there provides a communication device for reading, writing, editing, and/or social media interactions for the visually impaired individuals.

SET OF ATHLETIC BALLS FOR LEARNING THROUGH GAME PLAY - The present disclosure provides methods for making and sets of athletic balls for use in learning through game play. One or more embodiments include marking each of a number of tennis balls with a different letter symbol of an alphabetical set belonging to a language used in the game play, wherein all the letter symbols of the alphabetical set are used in marking the number of tennis balls; and marking each of the number of tennis balls with a different numerical symbol, the numerical symbol corresponding to a numerical position of the letter symbol in the alphabetical set of the language used in the game play.

2012-11-22

20120295236

MODIFIED KEYBOARD WITH INSERTABLE KEYS AND AN INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD FOR TEACHING TOUCH-TYPING USING SAME - This invention provides a methodology for teaching touch-typing using a keyless keyboard whose keys are inserted one by one as instruction progresses. A beginner keyboard only contains the home keys (A S D F J K L;) or the letters (F and J) used by the pointer fingers, making it easier for the user's hands to find the keys correctly without having to look down at the letters. As each new letter is introduced, it is added to the keyboard. The letter key being taught is easier to find since there are no other keys in the vicinity for the user's fingers to go. This makes touch-typing easier because the only keys available are those that have been taught. The user's fingers will naturally go to those keys because there are no other keys on the keyboard.

2012-11-22

20120295237

EXERCISE REWARD CONTAINER - Motivation for performing exercise may be provided with an exercise reward holding system. The system may include a pedometer and a container to hold a reward object. The container may have a lock programmable to release upon receipt of a signal from the pedometer. The pedometer may be operable in a location separate from the container.

Apparatus and Method to Improve Toddler's Steps and Mobility - An apparatus is described that allows a table to be turned upside down so that a toddler can use the upright legs as grips and the horizontal cross support beams as obstacles to master the art of stepping over this obstacle height of the cross support beams. Once the art of stepping is mastered, the table is flipped upright to function as a table again. Several adjustments are added to a table so that the height of the cross support beams and length of the legs can be adjusted to provide a range of mastering possibilities when in the upside down position. When flipped upright, the surface of the table can have adjustable to have uniform height or a top that slants.

2012-11-22

20120295240

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED HEALTH CARE COMPLIANCE - Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture may provide for improved health care compliance. Embodiments may comprise, for example, identifying an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, determining output information associated with a game, and providing the output information to the patient. Some embodiments may comprise receiving a code associated with a patient, wherein the code includes encoded information that is indicative of an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, decoding the code to determine the information, determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance, and providing, in the case that compliance with the condition is determined, one or more rewards to the patient.

COMPUTER-BASED ACTIVE TEACHING - The discussion relates to actively teaching a classification boundary. One implementation can obtain examples and a boundary associated with an operational space. This implementation can choose an active teaching strategy to teach the boundary to a user as a classification task. It can select an individual example for presentation to the user utilizing the active teaching strategy. The implementation can receive a user response to the example and evaluate the active teaching strategy in light of the user response.

2012-11-22

20120295243

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING MEDIA FILE ACCESS OVER AN EDUCATIONAL TESTING NETWORK - Systems and methods are disclosed for serving fresh media content while minimizing Internet traffic by periodically checking content freshness between a local server and a remote server; if a stale content exists on the local server, replacing the stale content with a fresh content from the remote server; and serving the fresh content from the local server.

2012-11-22

20120295244

APPARATUS FOR VISUAL IDENTIFICATION OF VALVES IN MULTI VALVE DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - There is disclosed an apparatus and method for visual identification of valves in multi valve distribution and transmission systems, and particularly for municipal utility infrastructures such as mainline, connection, drain, pressure district, pressure regulating and pressure sustaining valves. In an embodiment, color coded valve box inserts are made to specifications, inserted and secured into place at the opening of multiple valve boxes to easily and accurately identify the different types or sizes of valves. Each color represents a different type or size of valve, as established by the municipality. A color coding chart identifying the different types or sizes of valves may be placed at each point of access to the valves to assist in identification of the different types of valves.

2012-11-22

20120295245

DERMAL MICRO-ORGANS, METHODS AND APPRATUSES FOR PRODUCING AND USING THE SAME - Embodiments of the present invention provide Dermal Micro-organs (DMOs), methods and apparatuses for producing the same. Some embodiments of the invention provide a DMO including a plurality of dermal components, which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of the DMO and diffusion of cellular waste out of the cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in the DMO. Some embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for harvesting the DMO. An apparatus for harvesting the DMO may include, according to some exemplary embodiments, a support configuration to support a skin-related tissue structure from which the DMO is to be harvested, and a cutting tool able to separate the DMO from the skin-related tissue structure. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

2012-11-22

20120295246

BLOOD CELL SORTING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - The invention relates to methods of isolating white blood cells (WBCs) from a sample, e.g., whole blood, using magnetic particles that specifically bind to WBCs and a series of specific steps and conditions. The methods can include one or more of decreasing the viscosity of the sample prior to WBC isolation, agitating the sample at specified frequencies, and/or using a sample container arranged such that all of the sample is placed in close proximity (e.g., within 5, 2, 1, or 0.5 mm) to the source of the magnetic field. The new methods provide for isolation of WBC preparations with high yield, purity, and viability. The methods are designed for compatibility with automation protocols for rapid processing of multiple samples.

2012-11-22

20120295247

PORCINE SEMINAL MATERIAL COMPOSITION FOR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF SOWS - A porcine seminal material composition intended for artificial insemination of sows includes capsules containing a suspension made of porcine seminal material coated with a bi-valent or tri-valent ion alginate film, wherein the porcine spermatozoon concentration within the porcine seminal material suspension present in the capsules is between 900 and 1500 million spermatozoa per milliliter.

2012-11-22

20120295248

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC GAS CONTROL IN A DISPOSABLE VESSEL - A disposable mixing vessel incorporates a system for dynamic gas control. The disposable mixing vessel includes a first agitating element and a second agitating element located above the first agitating element. The system for dynamic gas control enables a cell culture process to occur in the disposable mixing vessel while maintaining certain parameters of the liquid medium to be within a desired range. Such parameters may include the level of dissolved carbon dioxide, the level of dissolved oxygen, the pH and the osmolality. The system for dynamic gas control may control gas inlet and outlet ports in the disposable mixing vessel for sweeping a suitable composition of gas across the headspace of the liquid medium.

2012-11-22

20120295249

Instrument And Method For The Automated Thermal Treatment Of Liquid Samples - An instrument and a method for the automated thermal treatment of liquid samples are disclosed. An inter-distance between a temperature-controlled receptacle for loading with a plurality of vessels for containing the samples and end portions of optical fibers can be varied, wherein the receptacle is configured to form a thermal communication with the loaded vessels and wherein the optical fibers have first and second end portions. The first end portion and the second end portion of each optical fiber is fixed with respect to each other for transmitting light, wherein the variation of the inter-distance allows the vessels to be loaded to or unloaded from the receptacle and to enable detection of light from the samples contained in the one or more receptacle-loaded vessels.

2012-11-22

20120295250

Microchip, Measurement System and Method Using the Same, and Test Reagent to be Used for Microchip - A microchip to be used for measuring a plurality of types of objects to be measured. The microchip includes at least a reagent retaining portion and a detecting portion. The test reagent retaining portion includes a plurality of types of test reagents corresponding respectively to the plurality of types of objects to be measured. A plurality of time courses for a change in detected value at the detecting portion caused by a reaction between the test reagents and the objects to be measured corresponding respectively thereto are all different from each other.

2012-11-22

20120295251

DETERMINING CODON DISTRIBUTION AND/OR BASE PAIR DISTANCE BETWEEN CODONS IN A NUCLEIC ACID - The present invention relates to methods for the design and/or production of a probe or primer that is capable of hybridizing to a plurality of sites in a sample comprising nucleic acid. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for detecting and amplifying nucleic acid using such a probe or primer, for example, for identification of a strain, species or genera. Probe or primer sequences are determined by reference to codon usage bias of a target nucleic acid. In addition, the present invention provides methods for determining codon distribution and/or base pair distance between codons in a nucleic acid.

2012-11-22

20120295252

Composition for Analyzing Nucleic Acid - A composition for analyzing nucleic acid that contains luciferase for which reactivity to dATP is equal to or less than 1/400 reactivity to ATP. A method for analyzing nucleic acid that comprises the use of the composition. A kit for analyzing nucleic acid comprising the composition. The method provides for an inexpensive, highly accurate and highly sensitive nucleic acid analysis that uses dATP instead of an expensive reagent having a low reactivity to DNA polymerase.

2012-11-22

20120295253

Dynamic Monitoring of Activation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) in Living Cells Using Real-Time Microelectronic Cell Sensing Technology - Methods for identifying a compound capable of interacting with a Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) including providing a device capable of measuring cell-substrate impedance, adding test cells expressing a RTK to the device, measuring first impedances, adding a compound to at least one compound well and adding a vehicle control at least one control well, measuring second impedances of the compound well and the control well, determining the change in the impedance for the compound well and the one control well, comparing the change in impedance between the compound well and the control well, and identifying the compound interacts with the RTK if the comparison demonstrates a significant difference between the change in impedance.

METHOD FOR HIGH RESOLUTION MELT GENOTYPING - Various methods are described that provide for high resolution melt (HRM) genotyping. The embodiments include providing a locus specific primer and two allele specific primers each having a 5′ end with a short tail, providing a nucleic acid having a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) base located within 1-20 base pairs of the 3′ end of nucleic acid, hybridizing the locus specific primer and the allele specific primers to the nucleic acid, amplifying the sample using pyrophosphorolysis activated polymerization (PAP) PCR enzyme, and determining the Tm of the amplicons using HRM. In other embodiments, reactions mixtures and kits for HRM genotyping are provided and disclosed. These kits comprise a locus specific primer, one or more allele specific primers each having a 5′ end with a short tail, a nucleic acid, and a pyrophosphorolysis activate polymerization (PAP) PCR enzyme.

2012-11-22

20120295256

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT GENETIC TEST SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Disclosed herein is a nutritional genomic weight management algorithm running on a computer system, and more specifically, a nutritional genomic weight management algorithm where an analysis of a customer's unique DNA results in individualized diet and exercise plans, in accordance with the present invention. Methods of weight management, weight management business methods, and panels of alleles for nutritional genomics are also disclosed.

2012-11-22

20120295257

METHOD, MICROCHIP AND MIXED REAGENT FOR ANALYSIS OF NUCLEIC ACID BASE SEQUENCE - A technology is provided for achieving high efficiency of nucleic acid amplification reaction and high precision of melting curve analysis when performing melting curve analysis in a nucleic acid amplification process of obtaining an amplification product in which the target nucleic acids are continuously arranged via a loop. A method for analysis of nucleic acid base sequence is provided, and includes: performing amplification reaction of target nucleic acid which is targeted for amplification, in presence of a probe nucleic acid that is capable of hybridizing with the target nucleic acid, to obtain an amplification product in which the target nucleic acids are continuously arranged via a loop site and employing as the probe nucleic acid, a probe nucleic acid having a melting temperature which is lower than the reaction temperature of the amplification reaction; and performing melting curve analysis of the amplification product and the probe nucleic acid.

2012-11-22

20120295258

UTILITY OF B-RAF DNA MUTATION IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CANCER - The present invention discloses a method of detecting a wild-type or mutant B-RAF gene in a body fluid sample from a subject. Also disclosed are methods of using B-RAF as a biomarker for detecting cancer, predicting the outcome of cancer, and monitoring the treatment of cancer or the status of cancer. Furthermore, the invention discloses methods and compositions for detecting a mutant gene with a peptide nucleic acid clamp capable of hybridizing to a wild-type gene and a locked nucleic acid probe capable of hybridizing to a mutant of the gene.

METHODS FOR ACCURATE SEQUENCE DATA AND MODIFIED BASE POSITION DETERMINATION - Disclosed herein are methods of determining the sequence and/or positions of modified bases in a nucleic acid sample present in a circular molecule with a nucleic acid insert of known sequence comprising obtaining sequence data of at least two insert-sample units. In some embodiments, the methods comprise obtaining sequence data using circular pair-locked molecules. In some embodiments, the methods comprise calculating scores of sequences of the nucleic acid inserts by comparing the sequences to the known sequence of the nucleic acid insert, and accepting or rejecting repeats of the sequence of the nucleic acid sample according to the scores of one or both of the sequences of the inserts immediately upstream or downstream of the repeats of the sequence of the nucleic acid sample.

Haplotype Analysis - The present invention provides an efficient way for high throughput haplotype analysis. Several polymorphic nucleic acid markers, such as SNPs, can be simultaneously and reliably determined through multiplex PCR of single nucleic acid molecules in several parallel single molecule dilutions and the consequent statistical analysis of the results from these parallel single molecule multiplex PCR reactions results in reliable determination of haplotypes present in the subject. The nucleic acid markers can be of any distance to each other on the chromosome. In addition, an approach wherein overlapping DNA markers are analyzed can be used to link smaller haplotypes into larger haplotypes. Consequently, the invention provides a powerful new tool for diagnostic haplotyping and identifying novel haplotypes.

2012-11-22

20120295264

METHOD FOR DETECTING ULCERATIVE COLITIS - An object of the present invention is to provide a method of detecting an inflammatory bowel disease, and particularly ulcerative colitis, by using a component contained in fecal matter as an indicator. Namely, the present invention provides a method for detecting ulcerative colitis comprising: (A) a step of extracting RNA contained in fecal matter collected from a subject, (B) a step of measuring the amount of RNA derived from a marker gene in the RNA obtained in step (A), and (C) a step of comparing the amount of the RNA derived from the marker gene measured in step (B) with a preset threshold value, wherein the marker gene is one or more types of genes selected from the group consisting of COX-2 gene, B2M gene, MMP-7 gene, Snail gene, CD45 gene and CEA gene.

2012-11-22

20120295265

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED SCODA - Methods and apparatus for separating, concentrating and/or detecting molecules based on differences in binding affinity to a probe are provided. The molecules may be differentially modified. The molecules may be differentially methylated nucleic acids. The methods can be used in fields such as epigenetics or oncology to selectively concentrate or detect the presence of specific biomolecules or differentially modified biomolecules, to provide diagnostics for disorders such as fetal genetic disorders, to detect biomarkers in cancer, organ failure, disease states, infection or the like.

2012-11-22

20120295266

Methods and Systems for Molecular Fingerprinting - This invention relates in general to a method for molecular fingerprinting. The method can be used for forensic identification (e.g. DNA fingerprinting, especially by VNTR), bacterial typing, and human/animal pathogen diagnosis. More particularly, molecules such as polynucleotides (e.g. DNA) can be assessed or sorted by size in a microfabricated device that analyzes the polynucleotides according to restriction fragment length polymorphism. In a microfabricated device according to the invention, DNA fragments or other molecules can be rapidly and accurately typed using relatively small samples, by measuring for example the signal of an optically-detectable (e.g., fluorescent) reporter associated with the polynucleotide fragments.

2012-11-22

20120295267

Detecting DNA Mismatch Repair-Deficient Colorectal Cancers - Use of a CAT25 mononucleotide marker in a novel tetraplex PCR for the detection of MSH6-defective colorectal cancers (CRCs) is described herein. The tetraplex PCR of the present invention offers a facile, robust, less expensive (compared to the original pentaplex assay), highly sensitive, and specific assay for the identification of microsatellite instability (MSI) in CRCs.

2012-11-22

20120295268

INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ANALYTES - The present disclosure provides instruments and methods for detecting an analyte which are capable of exciting a plurality of luminescence labels and detecting light emitted therefrom. The instrument includes a filter carrier adapted for carrying a plurality of filter portion pairs, each pair related to a luminescence label and comprising a first filter portion for transmitting excitation light, and a second filter portion for transmitting emitted light. The first filter portion of a pair comprises a second filter portion of another pair. Also, the filter portions are arranged such that a pair can be brought into an operative condition whereby a first filter portion is in the excitation beam path and a second filter portion is in the emission beam path. The filter carrier and beam paths may be moved with respect to each other by a moving mechanism so as to bring a pair into operative condition.

2012-11-22

20120295269

METHOD FOR SEPARATING AN ANALYTE FROM A SAMPLE - An analyte is separated from a fluid sample by introducing the sample into a cartridge having a sample port and a first flow path extending from the sample port. The first flow path includes an extraction chamber containing a solid support for capturing the analyte from the sample. The cartridge has a second flow path for eluting the captured analyte from the extraction chamber, the second flow diverging from the first flow path after passing through the extraction chamber. The sample is forced to flow through the extraction chamber and into a waste chamber, thereby capturing the analyte with the solid support as the sample flows through the extraction chamber. The captured analyte is then eluted from the extraction chamber by forcing an elution fluid to flow through the extraction chamber and along the second flow path.

2012-11-22

20120295270

METHODS OF USING IMPROVED POLYMERASES - This invention provides for methods of sequencing and performing polymerase reactions using an improved generation of nucleic acid polymerases. The improvement is the fusion of a sequence-non-specific nucleic-acid-binding domain to the enzyme in a manner that enhances the processivity of the polymerase.